SRAM Fund awards money to IMBA

The International Mountain Bicycling Association (IMBA) received a US$200,000 grant from the SRAM Cycling Fund. It was the second award from the Fund, which was created on September 30, 2008. During the next five years, the Fund plans to award $10 million in grants to support cycling advocacy programs around the world that focus on improving bicycling.

SRAM President and CEO, Stan Day, acknowledged IMBA's achievements. "It is hard to imagine where mountain biking would be today without IMBA's trail building and restoration efforts over the last 20 years. Mike Van Abel, his staff and hundreds of IMBA grassroots volunteers have a proven track record. We are confident that SRAM's contribution to IMBA will be a powerful investment in the future of mountain biking."

Mike Van Abel, Executive Director of IMBA, talked about how the funds will be put to use.

"We are extremely excited about SRAM's contribution. These new funds will allow IMBA to build more new trails and build them quicker. We will invest $150,000 to add professional staff on a regional basis to bolster local clubs capacity to build and maintain trails, and $50,000 in our new grassroots fundraising program, Team IMBA, which also funds new trails," said Van Abel.

SRAM will announce more grants in the next few weeks.